The unemployment rate in India shot up to 7.83% in April 2022 from 7.60% last month. Offering a helping hand to improve the situation may seem impossible with your busy schedule. But there is a solution!

Donate to NGOs and help India’s future gold-medalists right from where you are.

Did you know a huge chunk of poverty in India arises from acute malnutrition in growing children? Here’s how.

Absence from school
Due to financial troubles, underprivileged children skip school to earn for their families. After the pandemic, this risk has become more severe. According to UNICEF, the number of children being gripped by child labour can rise from 160 million to 169 million by the end of 2022 due to the pandemic. (Source)

Providing mid-day meals (MDM) at school is a proven solution to this challenge. Studies show that when free meals are provided to feed the needy children at schools, families approve of sending their children to school.

Akshaya Patra is a charity in India that works in Public-Private Partnership with the Central Government to serve mid-day meals to children from low-income backgrounds. We are the world’s largest NGO-run school lunch programme to children at Government and Government-aided schools.

Inability to focus
What decides a child’s future is their ability to focus and actively participate in multiple activities at school. An under-nourished child is unable to concentrate despite being present in the classes. This results in their underperformance in social activities such as discussions and physical activities like sports.

Therefore, feeding the children free meals once every day does not end the story. The children must be given the right nutrition in adequate quantities to nurture their complete cognitive and physical development.

Keeping this in mind, Akshaya Patra decided not just to fill stomachs but also to meet the specified requirement of nutrition declared by the Ministry of Human Resource Development in every meal.

Thus, each mid-day meal at Akshaya Patra is cooked from a planned cyclical menu that contains carbohydrates, proteins, and micronutrients like iron, folic acid, vitamins, minerals and so on in standard quantities.

Continuity of Poverty Cycle
Whether a child is absent from school due to responsibilities or lack of strength from undernourishment, it has a direct impact on their future. Due to a lack of knowledge, physical strength, and mental health from nutrient deficiencies, the child loses multiple opportunities to do well and break the cycle of poverty.

As a result, the child, who could have been the next economist or international athlete, ends up in menial jobs with below-average earnings.

When you give charity in India with Akshaya Patra, you support mid-day meals of 1.8 million children across 14 states and 2 union territories. Your contribution will not only feed the needy children but also fund our upcoming programmess to support other underserved sections of society.

Final Thoughts
In conclusion, mid-day meals can be the ultimate weapon to push the future generation to achieve on their own terms. When you donate to Akshaya Patra, you become a part of the revolution without compromising your existing responsibilities.

Your one-time contribution can fund one child’s nutritious meals for an entire academic year. So, donate to NGOs that empower the future.

Engaging in any charitable act reflects your humane, responsible and compassionate side.

Often, we get so busy in the hustle-bustle of life that we overlook people who need our support. While we focus on tending to our everyday responsibilities and fulfilling our duties, we miss nurturing the compassionate and benevolent side in our lives. This is when non-profit organisations come into play. NGOs are non-government groups that work at the grassroots level to bring about a sustainable and tangible change in the community, society or the nation. The work of such organisations include tackling issues related to empowerment, environment protection, social development, education, health, poverty, hunger and similar other issues. Hence, by engaging with such NGOs by supporting them as a volunteer, knowledge partner, goodwill ambassador or donor, you can create a huge impact.

Given the significant roles that an NGO plays, the government of India encourages individuals and corporates to engage with and donate to charitable organisations.

The Income Tax Act of the Government of India supports charitable contributions made towards philanthropic organisations. According to Section 80G of the Income Tax Act, financial contributions made towards a registered charitable organisation qualify for tax exemption. The deciding factor to identify whether the donor receives 100% exemption or 50% exemption, depends on the registration of the charitable organisation.

Your Tax deductible donations have five benefits:

• It supports the beneficiary NGO in its operations, helps in the sustenance and expansion of its service.
• Positively influences and impacts the lives of beneficiaries.
• Reiterates the values of compassion and generosity. It also instils a sense of ‘giving back to society’.
• Uplifts the community on the whole by imbibing awareness, responsibilities, and being a part of the solution for numerous issues at hand.
• Makes the benefactor eligible for tax exemption.

NGOs understand the worth & power of every rupee. They ensure that the funds are utilized in the right manner

No matter what cause the NGO fights for, every little support from you will be valued and looked forward to. Hence, you can support an organisation depending on the cause you deeply connect with. For example, if you want to provide health and education to children coming from challenging socio-economic backgrounds, you can support not for profit organisations like The Akshaya Patra Foundation. It is one of the pioneer NGOs in India that started implementing the Government’s Midday Meal Programme. The Foundation provides nutritious school lunch to children in government and government-aided schools since 2000 for the last 21 years.

Currently, Akshaya Patra provides regular midday meals to 18,00,907 children studying in 19,039 schools across 60 locations of 14 States and 2 Union Territories of India. When you donate to this NGO:

• You make nutritious food accessible to school children, support their education while helping them progress towards their dreams and goals.
• Midday meals contribute towards overall development by enhancing children’s concentration. It also improves their performance in academics and participation in co-curricular activities.
• These meals improve attendance and reduce the drop-out rate of children, thereby ensuring continuity in education.
• You create a lasting impact in the lives of young, determined, and aspirational children who are willing to go beyond their financial situations.
• You become eligible to receive tax exemption on your donated amount (applicable for an online donation of ₹500 and above).

Akshaya Patra is considered among the best NGO in India to donate to, given the cause it works for and the diligence in its financial transparency.

In conclusion, your one moment to make a contribution and show your compassion can bring a phenomenal difference to society. So, as you go about fulfilling your responsibilities, do attend to your benevolent side too!